Every day, patient come to Colon Cancer Screening to learn how best to prevent colorectal cancer. In order to determine the program that is best for you, we review your medical history to determine if you have any risk factors for CRC, such as a family member who got CRC, or a disease such as chronic ulcerative colitis, that increases your risk for CRC.
Several tests screen for CRC. The best is colonoscopy, which directly visualizes the lining of the colon and permits your doctor to remove most polyps. Polyps are fleshy growths that develop in the colon and that can lead to cancer in some cases. Because colonoscopy requires anesthesia, it may be risky in individuals who have advanced heart or lung diseases. In this setting, a non-invasive stool-based screening test or a CT scan of the colon may be desirable. Likewise, a non-invasive test may be preferable in the elderly – or you may not need screening at all.
We will also discuss with you factors that influence the best timing of colon cancer screening. This is often a nuanced clinical decision, part of the “art of medicine.” We will discuss the options with you, providing you the information that you need to make the right choice. Call us today: 3473788184.